RANGERS eased into the last 8 of the Scottish Cup as they took care of Elgin City with a 3-0 victory which might have been more emphatic.
The Light Blues dominated for long spells of the game and in the end goals from Dean Shiels, Kevin Kyle and Kal Naismith took them past the Highlanders.
There was also the added bonus of a return to top team action for David Templeton and Darren Cole although the down side was an injury to Ian Black who had to go off after an hour.
Top performer was teenager Barrie McKay who produced his most consistent performance of the season utilising his pace and ability to great effect.
It was another fine performance too from young defender Chris Hegarty who has handled his promotion to the top team with some ease.
Rangers thought they had opened the scoring inside two minutes when Kyle fired the ball into the net after taking pass from McKay who had made a mesmerising run from inside his own half.
However, he was flagged offside in what was a marginal decision at best.
Kyle headed just over the bar from a McKay cross in 25 minutes and two minutes before that Shiels shot wide after a clever throw in from Lee Wallace
However, it was not until the 43rd minute that Rangers finally made the breakthrough. Kyle flicked the ball into the path of Shiels from McCulloch’s pass and the Northern Irishman finished with some style with a left foot shot in off the post.
McKay had been on top form all day and he created the second goal in 62 minutes when his corner from the left was met by Kyle who stooped to head home from close range.
That was crucial because Elgin did create a couple of opportunities. Stuart Leslie sliced wide from close range and Alexander had to make a great block with his foot from Sean Crighton’s effort.
Equally, Darren Cole was in the right place to block a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
In saying that, Wallace wasn’t far away with a left foot strike and Lewis Macleod had a decent chance but ballooned his effort over the bar.
It was Naismith who sealed it all seven minutes from time when he was expertly found by Cole and finished well with his left foot.
The fans had shown their appreciation for Sandy Jardine in the second minute with a minute’s applause and the legendary Ranger would surely have approved of the performance today.
Rangers: Alexander; Argyriou, Hegarty, McCulloch, Wallace; Black (Cole 59), Macleod; Little (Templeton 72), Shiels, McKay; Kyle (Naismith 83)
Subs not used: Gallacher (gk), Sandaza.
Elgin: Gibson, Niven, Beveridge, Crighton, Duff, Cameron, Gunn (Millar 89), O’Donoghue (Harkins 73), Leslie, Nicolson (Wyness 77), Moore
Subs not used: McCullan, Black
Referee: Euan Norris